| A Word Edgewise
by Mary Joe Clendenin |
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Seems like the years go faster all the time after you reach a certain age. It's as if 365 days pile on top a sled on an ice covered hill and begin to slide. You wake up some morning and have to make a tally mark for the uphteenth time to keep track of the years. One big trouble is, we have to become more conscious of how we take care of our bodies and minds. It becomes a great ambition to LIVE until we die.
With the consequences of failure of those efforts in mind, I have some advice about how we should eat, exercise our bodies and minds, and breathe. Of course, it's free, but worth a little more than that.
I dare say, you, like me, are not as active as you once were. You don't need the same amount or the same kind of foods. Everyone is preaching to us these days to eat more vegetables. I'm not going to preach, but I do urge you to leave off some of the fried foods and meats. Even if you live and eat alone, take time to see that you have balanced meals. I've got a great idea of how to do that for one or two people:
Buy a big bag of stir-fry type vegetables from the frozen food selection. By getting the big bag, using just what you need and re-closing the bag with a twisty, your food is much more economical. For lunch, pour the amount you will eat in a micro-waveable bowl with a lid (no water or seasoning) and microwave for about two or three minutes, until thawed but still crisp. Put some shaved ham or turkey on top, and a slice of cheese on top of that. Return to the microwave for about a minute. (Microwaves are different, you will have to be the judge for yours.) Now you have a balanced meal in about 5 minutes--and it's not bad, either. I tried it one day this week with some boiled chicken on top and a bagal on the side.
With a little experimenting you can prepare some economical, tasty meals without clogging the arteries. Don't forget to include many fruits in your daily diet.
Now for some exercise. Get a straight chair and sit. Then stand and sit again (I didn't say plop down, I said "sit".) Do this for 5 times, then while you are standing, get two cans of beans, or corn, or something--not shoe-string potatoes--something with a little weight. Holding a can in each hand, lift to your shoulders, then straight up. Do it about ten times. Drop your arms, but don't drop your cans--lift them straight out front and count to five before going back to your sides. Do this five times. Then to the same thing, only lift the cans straight out to your sides. Tired? Sit.
Time to breathe. Take a deep, deep breath through your nose. Let the air out slowly through your mouth--all of it, then blow as if you are blowing out a match. Do it again, three more times. That should wake you up.
Speaking of waking, be sure you get enough sleep. Your quota might be different from others, but don't sleep too much. Have a regular time to get up in the mornings and do so. Eat breakfast, cereal, toast, a variety of choices--but not bacon and eggs every morning, just occasionally to see what you've been missing. Don't skip breakfast.
Now to exercise the mind. Like the body, we need to keep our minds active. Puzzles, crossword, other word puzzles, 42, dominoes, Scrabble, bridge. Here's a little teaser to get you started. We often describe human characteristics by comparing them to other living creatures. Example: Sly as a fox. Fill in the blanks here with animals, birds, insects, whatever fits.